Why not to get credit cards in the time leading up to buying a home.But … apparently lenders wont’ have to run a second full credit check before closing on a mortgage:

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, it turns out that your mortgage lender will not have to pull a second full credit report on you hours before closing on your home purchase or refinancing.

In a clarification of a policy announced earlier this year, mortgage giant Fannie Mae now says that applicants will need to come clean about any debts they have incurred since they submitted their mortgage application — or debts they never disclosed on the application. But a formal pre-closing credit report will not be mandatory to confirm creditworthiness.

The chances of everyone in the lending pipeline (underwriters) actually getting this memo: slim to none. Best advice: be careful with your credit when you’re buying a home.